Whelan demands no let-up

Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan has warned his team-mates they must forget their five-star performance in their FA Cup semi-final because it will mean nothing unless they match it in the final against Manchester City.

Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan has warned his team-mates they must forget their five-star performance in their FA Cup semi-final because it will mean nothing unless they match it in the final against Manchester City.

Stoke thrashed Bolton Wanderers 5-0 at Wembley two weeks ago and Whelan hopes it will go some way to shaking off Stoke's image as a team who rely solely on set-pieces.

The 27-year-old Ireland midfielder said: "Winning 5-0 we've maybe changed a few people's minds, but we know you're only as good as your last game so we'll put that to the back of our minds.

"It's only a semi-final, we want to win the final."

The Wembley date with City on Saturday week will be the culmination of three years in the Premier League, where Stoke have consistently defied expectations under Tony Pulis.

"Since I've been at Stoke we've improved every year, points-wise and position in the league," said Whelan, a £500,000 signing from Sheffield Wednesday in January 2008.